3235 PTO Belt Replacement

[Bob_Bainbridge]

I was unable to find very much info about replacing the PTO belts so I'm posting my experience today replacing the matching pair of belts. I imagine all 3000 series & perhaps others are similar. My belts were glazed and cracked with 1 belt having a deep crack. The mower seemed slow to come up to speed & sounded like it bogged down at times.
I removed the side panels but NOT the hood or grille. I removed the sheet metal shroud, mounted between the engine & the grille, by 4 cap screws. I loosened the 2 large studs, below the large pulley, enough to allow the belts to slip between the pulley & studs. They are there solely to prevent the belts from jumping off the pulley. I removed the upper belt retaining bracket, held on by 2 cap screws. I unhooked the upper end of the spring on the PTO engagement arm. The belts can now be worked off the pulleys & slid between the PTO brake & pulley, front belt first & then the inner belt. Reverse the procedure for installation. The entire job can be done in an hour. My belts were original & 7 years old with 376 hours.

Bob B.

[petefitz]

Works for cub cadet 3186 as well. Thanks, this was very helpful!

[Bob_Bainbridge]

An update to the belt replacement. I don't know if the replacement belts I bought on eBay were of poor quality but they only lasted 25 hours. I replaced them again but this time was able to do it by only removing the tension spring and loosening the 2 belt retainer studs. By laying on the ground under the front of the tractor I was able to bends the retainer brackets enough to slip the belts off and on.

Bob B.

[petefitz]

I bent the belt retainers too. I've just ordered belts from v-belt supply and waiting for them to come. here is a link. with shipping about $8 each for 4. hopefully the kevlar will last. 4LK400 Kevlar V-Belt

[Bob_Bainbridge]

I bent the belt retainers too. I've just ordered belts from v-belt supply and waiting for them to come. here is a link. with shipping about $8 each for 4. hopefully the kevlar will last. 4LK400 Kevlar V-Belt

Wow, $5.40 ea, that's really cheap. I paid $27.64 for a pair of belts on eBay. I think the Cub dealer wanted $45 for the pair. Let us know how they work out.

Bob B.

[petefitz]

of course the belts didnt fit. Off to the Cub dealer to get the right ones...i'll never learn.

[Bob_Bainbridge]

I won't order those belts then.

Bob B.

[petefitz]

got the new belts and put them on, no problems, runs great. hope they last!

[tomwarby]

Thanks for your post. I have little mechanical ability but was able to follow your instructions and change the belts in about an hour.

[Bob_Bainbridge]

Thanks for your post. I have little mechanical ability but was able to follow your instructions and change the belts in about an hour.

Glad it helped. My belts are still going strong. In 9 years of use I've changed the 54 inch mower belt once and the PTO belts twice because the second set were apparently inferior. I still have the original battery and just started hooking up a Battery Tender last winter to keep it charged over the winter. When it finally goes it will probably just die completely.

Bob B.